Honduran journalist shot to death

New York, July 6,
2009--An unidentified gunman shot and killed Honduran journalist Gabriel
Fino Noriega on Friday in the town of San Juan Pueblo, according to local press
reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Honduran authorities today
to conduct a thorough investigation into Noriega's killing and bring those
responsible to justice.

Noriega, who worked for local radio station Estelar, TV
Channel 9, and as a correspondent for national station Radio América in San
Juan Pueblo, 217 miles (350 kilometers) north of the capital Tegucigalpa, was
gunned down after leaving the radio station at around 5 p.m., police spokesman
César Wilfredo Ardón told CPJ. Noriega was shot at 11 times and badly injured, Ardón
said. The journalist died on route to a local hospital.

Noriega reported on general news, according to local press
reports. Police said they are investigating the case but so far have no
suspects. Investigators are considering his work as a journalist as a possible
motive, said Ardón.

A political crisis under way following the ouster of President
Manuel Zelaya on June 29 has seriously
affected the press freedom climate in this country but initial reports have
not linked the killing to the crisis, according to Honduran station Radio
América.

Noriega is the second reporter killed in Honduras this year. On March 31,
gunmen shot and killed radio journalist Rafael
Munguía Ortiz in the northern city of San
Pedro Sula. Munguía, a local correspondent for
national Radio Cadena Voces, reported on violence and organized crime, according
to CPJ research. There have been no arrests in this case.